Street-sweeping machine



Feb. 19,1952 c.w. MOTT 2,586,554

STREET-SWEEPING MACHINE Filed June 28, 1945 2 SX-lEETS-SI-IEET 1ITVEUZLIUT v CARL W Marx Feb. 19, 1952 c. w, MQTT I 2,586,554

STREET-SWEEPING MACHINE Filed June 28, 1946 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Patented Feb. 19, 1952 2,586,554 STREET-'SWEEPING MACHINE C Mottv La G e a k. assinq to Elgin Sweeper C an E sie lt a c mic:

tion of Illinois Application June 28, 1946,- Serial N0. 68l ),041-

3 Claims- 1 This invention relates tonew and improved dirt bucketstructure for street sweeping machines, and more particularly to such astructurewhich is especially adapted for use in small size or. baby typestreet sweeping machines.

Among the objects of the invention is the provision of a dirt bucketstructure for use in a sman compact street sweeping machine where working space is very limited but. the material swept up by the mainsweeping broom of the machine must be carried to a dirt box within themachine at a point relatively remote from the-sweeping range of thebroom.

Another object .is to provide a movable dirt bucket structurefor astreet sweeping machine wherein the dirt bucket is actuated from theopposite side of the main sweeping broom from which the sweepings arecollected by the bucket.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means foroperating a movable dirt bucket in a street cleaning machine.

A still further object of the invention is to provide improved means forguiding amovable dirt bucket in a street sweeping machine. v

Yet another object of the invention is to provide improved meansforassuring dislodgement of dirt from the dirt bucket for quickly emptyingthe bucket 'for return to dirt-receiving position,

According to the general features of theinvention, an elongated dirtbucket is supported trans:

versely of. a street sweeping machine with the mouth thereof openingtowardthe mai :SW 6p-v in broom-of the mach n to receive h w enin stherefrom in the forward movement ofthe machine ,along a roadway to beswept, the bucket being mounted for movement Withint e machinefordepositing sweepings collected therein into a dirt box. which has itsmouth adjacent to, the topof the machine.

Another feature of the invention resides inhaving the dirt bucketpivotally mounted rearwardly chine and adapted to be actuated from therear of the machine.

According to still another feature of the invention improvedguidinganddirt dislodging strucu e s o d d or t u t v o b e dir bucket so that thedirt bucket. is u ded m othly within close operating "c earances t te-fi th? 9? mouth ofthedit b xand whe in ill l t Q15? chargingpositionis, .jcl ediqr PoitiYe .-Sli198"- ing .the .dirt thereiromin qthe 1 J 9??- Other cmectsre tures. a d advanta se the present inventionwill :be readily. Pe rce f the following.det ilflldesfilitliiw. 9f Yembodimentqr.themventiontalsee-t f fli th the I acccmnanyina we 9f;i??... which; t

Fi ure lie a..-'. io e-@r ls s eee patic partially sec io alsice-elevatic eluw 91 a t eet. team i achine smearin th ai iet ie d tbucket s ructured i iefizie i i iv e- Figure 2 is a rear 9r mouth elevatalviewof the dirt uckt 'aken seb' taeealr "it? the? fl e II. of e i ure3 is ve tc al ect rial v ewthrel h t e d rt b cket take subs an ial n i2 lil Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional detail view tak s bs antiallyal nethe ine i -I o F ure -1.

Fi ure 5 n enlar a nta vh r mnta se t o al detai V e t k n subs ant a la ne we l V-V fi eur 'l Fi u e s nswer d! fra m n ar se t nal det l viewtaken su e enti llvee th lin ITVI olffiggrre'y a A dirt bucket structureembodying thefeatures of the ere-sect nve eeisespe Mercat use in asel1f.-

a, cooperative y inter en n fille ca t supportin th -item; ne e f!" t aframewo k: 9 cementin truqt i a member ma -Pals 999 i tr e tor c b aplafio astrue ura 1611 with the r ar sw pi see tioa U Q l hefiia.Mobilitypfthe, a dr in :Wh. s tP l19 tt -s e a section ii and driveninsuitable m anner as by m n e a hain andseroek l; driv 21 iii P we se tn .0. whi e t iront .Q th e'a m i unner r s e able te E6 m ta ei 11 derthe chassis l3. Operating .contrplof the rear e l ar na he e ectemm theFeb t? impu n-th me e ans er ransnis qn sys:

em ludi .c et leve .l

For light weight and compactness, as well as improved efficiency, thesweeping section I l of the machine may be constructed principally fromsheet metal, including side plates 18 and a top plate 19 securedtogether in substantially inverted U-shape to provide a housing. Supportof the sweeping housing by the rear wheels is preferably effectedthrough the medium of respective sleeves 20 secured to the lower rearedge portions of the side plates 18 and affording a mount for a rearwheel axle 2|. (Figures 1, 4 and 5.) A splash guard and closure platestructure 22 at each side of the sweeping section II partially enclosesthe associated wheel l4 and the chain and sprocket mechanism l as Wellas other operating structure for the machine.

Mounted for operation partially between the forward portions of the rearwheels l4 on an axis parallel to the axle 2| and accessible throughappropriate cut-out openings 23 in the lower portions of the side platesI8 is a main sweeping broom 24 of the rotary cylindrical type. Thisbroom embodies any preferred construction and comprises radial bristlesmounted about a suitable core supported by an axial shaft 25 which maybe mounted in suitable fashion parallel to the axle 2i upon the rearends of supporting arms 21 pivotally connected at their forward endsadjacent the bottom of the cab l2. Power for driv ing the sweeping broom24 counterclockwise, as seen in Figure l, in the forward motion of thesweeping machine is derived from the self-contained power source of themachine and is transmitted through suitable sprocket chains 28.

According to the present invention the dirt which is swept up by themain sweeping broom 24 as the machine is propelled forwardly along aroadway to be cleaned, is thrown forwardly into a dirt bucket 29 adaptedto be actuated periodically from the dirt collecting position to aposition for deposit of the collected dirt into a dirt box 30.

As best seen in Figure l, the mouth of the dirt box 30 is preferablydisposed within the upper portion of the housing defining the sweepingsection ll of the machine, and preferably above the sweeping broom 24.From its mouth, the dirt box 30 extends downwardly diagonally rearwardlyto a dump door 3i which closes its lower end and forms the lower rearextremity of the sweeping section housing.

The dirt bucket 29 is preferably a little longer than and at least aslong as the sweeping broom 24 and in operation extends transverselyacross the machine slightly forwardly of the sweeping broom and elevatedslightly above the road level in such a relation to the sweeping broomas to receive'efiiciently the dirt normally swept tangentially forwardlyand upwardly by the broom 24.

In a light weight construction of the dirt bucket 29, it is formedsimply from an identical pair of end or side plates 32 and a body plate33. The side plates 32 are trimmed to the desired contour which afiordsa straight vertical rear or mouth edge 34, a lower upwardly inclined lipedge portion 35, a relatively straight generally horizontal bottomportion 37, a rounded forwardly bulging edge portion 38, an upwardly andrearwardly diagonal portion 39 diverging from the bottom portion 31, anda top narrow generally horizontal portion 40. The body plate 33 isshaped to conform to all but the rear contour of the side plates 32 andis secured thereto in any suitable fashion such as by welding. Thisprovides a strong, simple; inexpensive, lightweight dirt 4 bucket ofrelatively large capacity and having a cross section, as seen in Fig. 3conforming to the described shape of the side plates.

Means for supporting the dirt bucket 29 for movement between a dirtcollecting position, as indicated in full outline in Figure 1, and adirt discharging and depositing position over the mouth of the dirt box30*, as indicated in broken outline position in Figure 1, comprises asupporting and actuating lever structure 4| at each end of the bucket.

An effective arrangement for the lever structure 41 comprises in eachinstance a long flat lever arm 42 extendin arcuately forwardly fromadjacent the rear wheel axle 2| on an ample radius to clear the mainsweeping broom 24. At their forward ends the lever arms 42 are securedfast to the respective opposite outer ends of a reinforcing andconnecting bar 43 secured rigidly across the upper portion of the bucketside plates 32 and extending through and slightly outwardly therebeyondfor receiving the lever arms. Thus, the lever arms 42 are rigidlysecured together and to the respective opposite ends of the dirt bucket29 and the dirt bucket is strongly reinforced by the rod 43. Bypreference the rod 43 is welded to the ends of the respective lever arms42 and to the side plates 32, the latter being initially provided withsuitable apertures 44 therethrough for the respective end portions ofthe bar 43. For light weight and yet ample securement and rigidity, thebar 43 may be formed of a tubular structure.

At their rear extremities, the long lever arms 42 are secured torespective bracket structures 45 each of which is formed with a sleeve46 (Figure 4) by which it is journaled on the rear wheel axle 2! forfree pivotal movement about the axle to swing its lever arm 42 throughan oscillatory range within the dirt collecting and dirt depositinglimits of the dirt bucket 29. Clearance for swinging movement of therespective lever arms 42 is afforded between the side plates l8 and thesides of the dirt box 30 (Fig. 5).

Means for oscillatory swinging of each of the dirt bucket leverstructures 4| may comprise an hydraulic actuator 41 which is supportedpivotally at its upper end by a pin 48 secured between the adjacenthousing side wall 18 and the adjacent side wall of the dirt box 30. Atits oppositeend, the hydraulic actuator 41 is secured through the mediumof a piston rod 49 with a short bell crank lever arm 50 extendingrearwardly from the lever bracket structure 45 and formed with abifurcated ear 5! (Figure 5) within which the end of the piston rod 49is pivotally pinned. With this arrangement, when the hydraulic actuator41 is operated to protract the piston rod 49, the bell crank lever arm50 is driven to effect counter-clockwise pivotal swinging of the leverbracket structure 45 and thereby the long lever arm 42 and thuselevation of the dirt bucket 29 toward dirt depositing position at themouth of the dirt box 30.

Both of the hydraulic actuators 41 are, of course, coordinated inoperation to act simultaneously and a suitable hydraulic operatingsystem (not shown) may be provided for control of the actuators by theoperator sitting in the cab l2 of the machine.

In the dirt collecting position, the dirt bucket 29 is supported withthe lower wall portion 31 thereof substantially parallel to the roadsurface and the upwardly diagonal surface 39 thereof disposedsubstantially perpendicular to a tangent with the lower-sweepingsideofthe broom 24 so as. sto provide a. deflector. for dirt sweptthereagainst by the broom. Dirt droppingfrom. the de flector is retainedin the receptacle of the bucket formed by @thehorizontal wall portion31and the curved. portion 38. Thelip portion 35 of the bucket, of course,restrains the collectedidirt from unintentionally leaving thebucket.

By having the dirt bucket ,29 elevated. rapidly to its dischargeposition at ,the mouth of, the dirt box 30, little if anywdirt will dropfrom, the mouth of the bucket because of gravitational and centrifugalforce during movement. even though. the bucket is gradually inverted.inthe course of its arc of movement, toward discharge position- However,when the bucket comes-to a halt in the discharge position, the dirt ,canfall therefrom .substantially unimpeded because, as best seen 'in thebroken line discharge position of Figure 1, the walls of thebucketdivergeto- Ward the mouth.

spilling over the sides of dirt discharged-from the dirt bucket into thedirt .box, 35 is avoided by-the provision of side deflector wings 52 atthe upper side edges of the dirt box.

Any dirt which may 'escape the'lip 35 of the dirt bucket 29 or spillforwardly therefrom over the lipof the dirt box 30,;is returned in frontof the broom 24-by-a-bafiie plate-53 carried by the forward lip of thedirt box and extending down to a position clearing the upper frontportion of the broom. The deflector 53 serves also as a splash shield,cooperating in this respect with the bottom of the dirt box 30.

Forwardly of the operating path of the dirt bucket 29' is provided adirt shield 54 which serves also as a transverse reinforcement for theside walls [8 of the housing of the sweepin section.

Any tendency of the dirt bucket 29 to swing transversely of the machinedue to the relatively long leverage of the supporting lever arms 42 andwhich, of necessity are fairly thin due to the narrow clearance withinwhich they must operate between the side walls 18 and the dirt box 30,is avoided by appropriate substantially frictionless guiding means.Herein such means comprises a roller 55 carried in each end of the dirtbucket and cooperating with a respective guide track 5! on the adjacenthousing side wall l8. Each of the rollers 55 is carried by a suitablebracket 58 secured to the adjacent end plate 32 of the bucket andprojecting upwardly therefrom in substantially intersecting relation tothe plane of the diagonal wall 39.

The tracks 51 are each in the form of a sheet metal strip formed on anarc corresponding to the arc of movement of the dirt bucket whiletraveling from the dirt collecting position to the dirt depositingposition. This strip may be secured to the inside face of the respectivehousing side wall [8 as by riveting, welding, or the like.

Means may be provided, in the present instance in association with theguide track structure 51, for limiting the movement of the dirt bucket29 into the dirt-depositing position. Such means in the present instancealso preferably comprises an expedient for jarring the dirt bucketslightly to assure quick discharge of dirt therefrom into the dirtbox-30. Accordingly, each of the guide tracks 51 is formed at its upperextremity with a buffer or stop flange 59 extending inwardly at rightangles therefrom into the path of the guide roller 55 traveling therespective track in the movement of the dirt bucket.

To. reduce ishoola each-of :the stop; flanges :53 is provided with aresilient bumper block :60 which may be formed from suitable rubber orother resilient material acceptable for this purpose.-

Such bumper block'may besecured to the ,flange 59sby suitable means suchasattachment screws or bolts 6|. Thus, as the :dirt :bucket'reaches itslimit .of movement, :in the dirt "discharging posie tionat themouth ofthe dirt box, the guide rollers 55 will strike the a bumper block 60,bringing the bucket andactuating structure to relatively abrupt halt andwith'a moderate bump-effecting a jar in the bucket, substantiallysoftenedby the resilience of the bumper block 60." Furthermore, due tothe resilienceof the bumper block BU-by reason of which it is somewhatcompressed as th'e associated roller strikes it, :there is also 'acertain rebound action tending to throw -the:dirt bucket structure intoreverse; This causes, in addition to the j arring of the bucket asthero'ller initially strikes the bumper block-60, a jogging: actionwhich further assists in dislodgingdirt :from the bucket into the dirtbox. To efie'ctuatethese pur poses, of course, the bumper blocksto arepref erably of substantial proportions.

The clearance :of the dirt .bucket '29 above the roadway is suflicientto accommodate -sweepings propelled by a side broom Blunder the dirtbucket toward the mainsweeping broom zd 'whiohp in turn, drives the dirtinto the dirt bucket. The side broom 62 may be driven from the samesource of power and through similar control mechanism as the mainsweeping broom 24.

Escape of dirt propelled by the brooms of the machine laterally from thespace between the main broom 24 and the dirt bucket 29, is avoided bythe provision of dirt guards or shoes 63 disposed just beyond therespective opposite ends of the main sweeping broom 24 and across therespective opposite ends of the space between the main broom and thedirt bucket.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of constructionmay be varied through a wide range without departing from the principlesof this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit thepatent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of theanpended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a street sweeping machine having a rotary type main sweeping broomand a housing including side'plates defining a passageway for aswingable dirt bucket, an elongated bucket structure having an openmouth facing the discharge side of said broom, said bucket structurehaving side walls substantially parallel to said side plates, and guidemeans secured to the outer side of each bucket side wall, said guidemeans in each instance comprising a flange secured to the respectivebucket side wall and extending outwardly and upwardly from such wall anda roller secured on said flange for rotatable contact with the adjacentside plate of said housing for maintaining said bucket in spacedrelation to said side plates as the bucket moves between a dirtreceiving and a dirt discharge position.

2. In combination in a street sweeping machine having a rotary mainsweeping broom and a housing including side plates defining a passagewayfor a swingable dirt bucket, an elongated retain dirt therein, guidemeans secured to the outer side of the bucket side walls for maintainingsaid walls spaced from the side plates of the machine as the dirt bucketmoves from a dirt re"- ceiving to a dirt discharge position, said guidemeans in each instance comprising a flange secured to the respectivebucket side wall and extending outwardly and upwardly from such wall anda roller secured on said flange for rotatable contact with the adjacentside plate of said housing, and resilient bumper means secured to theside plates at the discharge position for engagement by said rollers.

3. In a power sweeper machine including a frame and a sweeping broommounted transversely in the frame immediately in front of the rear axleof the machine, a dirt bucket having a mouth directly adjacent theforward side of the broom to receive sweepings therefrom, a dirt bucketsupport arm pivoted on the rear axle and circumferentially curved aroundthe broom, an inelined hopper mounted in the frame with an opening forreceiving dirt from said bucket as it is pivoted on said curved supportarm, said hopper having a discharge opening to the rear of the rear axleof the machine, and means at the rear side of the broom connected tosaid arm to actuate the arm for swinging the bucket upwardly over thebroom to the discharge position.

' CARL W. MOTT.

REFERENCES CI'IEfi The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 251,194 Cushing et al Dec. 20,1881 492,489 Williams Feb. 28, 1893 557,297 Williams Mar. 31, 1896631,096 Smith Aug. 15, 1899 681,514 Schumann Aug. 27, 1901 735,126Menzies Aug. 4, 1903 771,787 Meyer Oct. 4, 1904 918,602 Seymour Apr. 20,1909 1,175,678 Barnett Mar. 14, 1916 1,320,970 Beaty Nov. 4, 19191,371,345 Brackett Mar. 15, 1921 1,407,180 Todd Feb. 21, 1922 1,566,107Leach Feb. 15, 1925 1,750,829 Wilson Mar. 18, 1930 1,906,001 Finlay eta1 Apr. 25, 1933 1,922,851 Howard Aug. 15, 1933 2,278,306 Cushman Mar.31, 1942 2,300,192 Allen Oct. 2'7, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number CountryDate 28 896 Great Britain Dec. 15 1913

